Program Participant
3. Child’s status as a foster child, homeless, runaway, migrant, or displaced by a declared disaster
4. Child’s enrollment in Head Start or Even Start

Income Eligibility

For those households that qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on income, an adult in the household must complete a free and reduced-price meal application online at www.schoolcafe.com or print one from the MISD web site; www.mesquiteisd.org the form can be found on the Food & Nutrition Services web page. Those individuals filling out the application will need to provide the following information:

Only one application per family is needed.

Names of all household members

Amount, frequency, and source of current income for each household member

Last 4 digits of the Social Security number of the adult household member who signs the application or, if the adult does not have a social security number, check the box for “No Social Security number”

Signature of an adult household member attesting that the information provided is correct

Categorical or Program Eligibility

Food & Nutrition Services is working with local agencies to identify all children who are categorically and program eligible. Meal Benefit Program will notify the households of these children that they do not need to complete an application. Any household that does not receive notification should contact the Meal Benefit Processing office at 972-882-5512 or email foodnutrition@mesquiteisd.org with questions.

Any household that wishes to decline benefits should contact Meal Benefit Processing office at 972-882-5512 or email foodnutrition@mesquiteisd.org.

Applications can be submitted anytime during the school year. The information households provide on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility. Applications may also be checked and verified by Meal Benefit Program at any time during the school year.

Determining Eligibility

Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price meal policy, Meal Benefit Program will review applications and determine eligibility. Households or guardians dissatisfied with the Reviewing Official’s eligibility determination may wish to discuss the decision with the Reviewing Official on an informal basis. Households wishing to make a formal appeal for a hearing on the decision may make a request either orally or in writing to Dr. Shelley Garrett, Executive Director of Administrative Services, 3819 Towne Crossing Mesquite, TX 75150, at 972-288-6411.

Unexpected Circumstances

If a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size increases, the household should contact the Meal Benefit Processing office at 972-882-5512 or email foodnutrition@mesquiteisd.org with questions. Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for benefits if the household’s income falls at or below the current Federal income eligibility guidelines.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

Meal Accounts

If a student does not have enough money in his or her account for a meal, The student will be allowed to continue purchasing meals up to $5, and the district will present the parent with a schedule of repayment for any outstanding account balance.

If the district is unable to work out an agreement with the student’s parent on replenishment of the student’s meal account and payment of any outstanding balance, the student will receive a reminder meal. The district will make every effort to avoid bringing attention to such a student.

This reminder lunch meal consists of:

Cheese sandwich (all grade levels)

1 or 2 vegetables (all grade levels)

1 fruit in elementary & 1 or 2 fruits in middle and high school

Choice of milk for all grades ISS – (not eating in the cafeteria) cheese sandwich and choice of milk

Mesquite ISD notifies families about students’ negative meal account balances through its automated notification system. Families may select who should receive these alerts and whether they are contacted by phone, text or email. To modify your preferences for these notifications, log in to Skyward Family Access.

Menus, Payments & More

Mesquite ISD menus can be found on the School Café website (schoolcafe.com) or on the SchoolCafé app. This tool contains our menus as well as a complete nutrition and allergy breakdown of each item we serve by school. The SchoolCafé app is also available to download to your phone for iPhone and Android. Just search for SchoolCafé in the App Store or Google Play. Take moment to check out all the great features this app contains – including applying for Free & Reduced Benefits right from your phone.

Special Diets

The Food and Nutrition Services Department will make accommodations for a child with a disability or life-threatening food allergy based on the diet prescribed by the child’s physician. A complete Physician’s Diet Modification form must be on file with the school nurse before accommodations can be made. The form can be downloaded below or obtained from the school nurse.

For those with non-severe allergies or other intolerances, please refer to School Café. This tool has allergy information as well as nutrition information for all menu items served.

If a student no longer requires dietary modification and would like to eat all foods with no restrictions, their parent must have a doctor fill out a new Diet Modification Request form stating that the student is no longer allergic or no longer needs dietary modifications. After this new form is complete, the parent, doctor’s office, or other medical care center should then turn the form in to the school nurse who will pass it to the foodservice manager. The foodservice manager will then scan a copy to the district dietitian and the flag on the student’s account will be removed.

Why Does Food and Nutrition Services not Accommodate for Those Students Without a Qualifying Condition?

Mesquite ISD Food and Nutrition Services remains committed to doing our part to ensure a safe eating environment for all students. Students with any condition mentioned above will be diligently accommodated for. Because of the variation in severity of allergies and intolerances, one menu does not fit every student. We implore parents to work with their students to teach them how to select foods that agree with them. To assist in this effort, the Food and Nutrition Services has created a website and app containing allergy and nutrition information for all foods served. This can be accessed by visiting School Café. Allergens can also be accessed through district dietitian.